Device for drying lumber



(No Model.)

' 0. G. ROBERTS.

Device for Drying Lumber. No. 230,819. Patented Aug. 3,1880.

j $x ;B4fi%1*:51

WITNESSES a INVENTOR- I 6 a 23%??? I UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

CHARLES C. ROBERTS, OF CLEVELAND, OHIO.

DEVICE FOR DRYING LUMBER.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 230,819, dated August 3, 1880.

7 Application filed May 7,1880. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, CHARLES C. ROBERTS, of Cleveland, in the county of Ouyahoga and State of Ohio, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Devices for Drying Lumber; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it pertains to make and use it, reference being'had to the accompanying drawings, which form part of thisspecification.

My invention relates to drying lumber; and it consists of hollow platens, adapted to receive steam or hot air, suspended edgewise from a frame in such a manner that they can be readily separated to permit the introduction between the different platens of thelumber to be seasoned; also, in mechanism whereby the platens can at any moment be separated to permit escape of steam from the lumber or the withdrawal of the lumberafter it has become seasoned; also, in mechanism for regulating the pressure of the platens upon the lumber; also, in a flange attached to the bottom of the platens for holding the edge of the lumber and preventingits dropping through when the platens are separated; also, in combination with the platens, of hand-holes, whereby the lumber can be easily withdrawn from between the platens.

In the drawings, Figure 1 is a view in elevation, with part of the frame broken away to show more clearly its construction. Fig. 2 is an end view of the same; and Fig. 3 is a plan view of the bottoms of the platenssin a closed condition, showing the construction of the flanges for the support of the lumber.

In the said drawings, A represents any suitable frame adapted to hold and contain the operative parts of my device.

B represents a shaft resting and turning upon the top of the frame and operated by the handle B.

G O are hollow steam chambers or platens, constructed, preferably, of metal, of any convenient size, any number of which may be employed. These platens or chambers are suspended by their edges by means of the links or rods 0, which are pivoted at their lower at O ends to the platens and at their upper ends to the frame A, one series of links being employed at each end of the platens, so that the latter will be retained in the desired vertical position and allowed to be moved laterally.

Each separate platen or chamber has apipe leading thereto, through which it receives steam or hot air, whereby the platens areheated to any degree desired. For the escape of the steam after-it has perform ed its function of heating the platens, similar pipes are connected with the upper portion of the platen, and these with a discharge-pipe.

The supply-pipes are indicated in the drawings byD D, and the discharge-pipes are shown Both the steam supply and discharge pipes extend nearly the length of the platen, between their point of attachment to the platens and main supply and discharge reservoirs D 0 in order to insure a sufficient length of pipe to enable it to spring slightly to allow of the lateral adjustment of the platens; or, if desired, the supply and discharge pipes may be provided with joints to facilitate their adjustment.

The shaft B, resting upon the frame, is supplied with cranks b b. These cranks, in turn, are connected with a knuckle-joint, F F, by means of the connecting-rods G G. One of the fingers of each of these knuckle-joints is pivoted to the outer. platens of my device. The other fingers are pivoted to the frame. The object of thisportion of my invention is to permit the ready opening and closing of the platens.

Any suitable mechanism other than that shown may be used, as two rods having right and left screws and a sleeve, the only essential feature being that the pressure may be readily applied and removed. I describe and show a single means only. This is done by operating the lever B. As this is raised it turns the shaft B, and with it the cranks Z). These cranks raise the connecting-rods G, which operate the knuckle-joints F, which open the two outer platens.

To adjust the device for the reception of lumber of different thicknesses, and also to permit a change in the amount of pressure of the platens upon the lumber, I attach the outer finger-of the knuckle-joint to a rod, H, adapted, by means of screw-threads and nuts, to be adjusted upon the frame. This rod H, connecting the knuckle-joint with the frame, is provided with a screw-thread. Upon this rod, and on the inside of the frame, I place a nut, h, and also upon the same rod, upon the outside of the same, I place another nut, h. By changing the length of this red H, by adjusting the nuts 7t and h, the pressure exerted upon the platens O O is easily regulated. Upon the bottom of the platens I place plates having flanges extending beyond the width of the bottoms, for the purpose of holding and retaining the lumber when the platens are separated, either for the escape of steam or for the purpose of withdrawing the lumber.

c are hand-holes upon the ends of the platens, for permitting ready access to the lumber without subjecting the hand to contact with the heated platens, and by means of which the lumber can be readily withdrawn. Without these hand-holes it would be necessary to allow the boards to project beyond the platens. If this is done that portion that is embraced by the platens becomes thoroughly seasoned, while that portion left outside remains unseasoned, and the end of the board is liable to become strained out of shape and cracked.

Having described the construction of my device, its operation is stated as follows: Steam is introduced into the pipes from a common reservoir, D, and from thence to the platens O O. The platens are opened by turning the shaft B by means of the crank B, the lumber introduced between the platens. The platens are then closed, bearing against the lumber, by means of thelever B, operating in an opposite direction. As before stated, the pressure of the platens upon the lumber can be adjusted and regulated by means of the nuts h and h upon the rod H.

During the operation of seasoning the moisture in the lumber may be permitted to escape by opening the platens, by means of the lever B, as often as necessary. The further object of so constructing my device that the platens can be readily separated is, that during the operation of seasoning they may be separated any number of times for the purpose of permittin g the shrinkage of the lumber.

Heretofore where lumber has been confined between platens for the purpose of seasoning the device has been so constructed as to prevent the separation of the platens until the process was complete. A device constructed according to my invention permits of the sepa' ration of these platens any number of times during the process of seasoning, thereby precombination, with two or more suspended platens, of devices for imparting lateral movement in opposite directions to said platens, substantially as set forth.

2. In a lumber-seasoi'ling apparatus, the combination, with two or more platens suspended at their upper edges by links or rods secured to a frame, of mechanism for imparting lateral pressure to the platens and devices for regulating the pressure, substantially as set forth.

3. In a device for seasoning lumber, the

combination, with suitable platens, of a flange attached to the bottom of the platens adapted to sustain the lumber during the operation of seasoning, substantially as and for the purpose shown.

4. In a device for seasoning lumber, the platens provided with hand-holes, whereby the lumber can be drawn from the platens, substantially as and for the purpose shown.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

CHARLES o. ROBERTS.

Witnesses:

WILLARD FRACKER, JNo. OROWELL, Jr. 

